Faith Reflections

Galatians 2:15-21: God’s Mercy

Paul’s argument in this letter is that a man does not have to submit himself to circumcision in order to follow Christ; Christ is the fulfillment of the old law and is therefore not subject to it. Christ is, in fact, its full human embodiment. How silly we are, Paul says, to believe that The Law is more important than Christ – God’s presence among us, as one of us. In Paul’s view the Galatians have missed the big picture. We are saved by Christ. . . and not the Law.

We have spent time reflecting on this in a number of our Noontimes, thinking about how we are frequently caught up in following the letterof the law and completely missing its intended purpose. Neglecting the spiritof the law in order to adhere to the permutations we have created with it is a stumbling block to living a life of justificationor salvation. In short, we are missing the forest by focusing on the trees.

We worry about the future and fret over the past. We are anxious about people and plans in the weeks and months to come; we harbor anger and guilt about offenses we or others have committed long years ago. We carry all of this weighty negativity with us and stagger through the present – missing the joy that God has posted along the way for us. We seem intent on suffering, and doing it badly.

In a letter to Titus, Paul writes: When the kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared, not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy, he saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the holy Spirit, who he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4-7)

With the letter of the law, we can become hyper-vigilant, struggling to maintain a safe distance from even the suggestion that we may break an order.

With the spirit of the law, we are free to explore new ways of serving God, free to express our emotions and to dialog with our creator.

With the Law, there is an immutable permanence and state of stasis that can deaden the soul.

With the Spirit, there is limitless compassion that heals, soothes, restores and replenishes the soul.

When we are intent on following the rules there is a paring down that takes place, a closing off of possibility, a temptation to finagle and maneuver.

When we are intent on following God, there is an opening up, a flourishing, a limitless opportunity for new beginnings.

With rules, we count our near occasions of sin and the number of times we have failed.

With God, we look for occasions to serve and opportunities to follow Jesus.

When we find ourselves looking for loopholes and excuses, we know we have strayed too far from Christ. When we hear ourselves walking fine lines and arguing small points, we know we have wandered too far from the creator. When we see ourselves safely hidden in our comfort zone fortresses rather than stepping into the unknown to witness and build up the Kingdom, we know that we have somehow forgotten that we are well-loved and ever-protected.

Paul speaks to the Galatians and he speaks to us, encouraging each of us to step into our lives with full confidence and gentle fearlessness. He urges us to be led by the Spirit rather than be stifled by the law. And he reminds us that God welcomes the sinner eagerly . . . for God has endless and abundant mercy.